Jimmy & Francelio

Some romances start with flowers, others with a broken nose. The nose is how it all began for Jimmy and Francelio, who met at a bar a year before. But it wasn't until Jimmy was recuperating from a fracture that he got in touch with Celio via Facebook. Then, the romance bloomed.

The Danbury, Connecticut couple wanted a very personal, hands-on wedding. So they stayed at Eventi the night before the big day, and bought flowers in the garden district the morning of. Celio custom-made all of the table arrangements and candle lanterns, featuring white calla lilies and mixed greens.

The ceremony was held outdoors on Eventi's Verdi II patio. Jimmy and Celio's beloved Reverend Lou officiated just as the sun began to descend into the surrounding city skyline while DJ Timothy played music that the couple helped curate. Twenty-four of their family and friends attended, including Celio's mother and Best Man, who flew in from Brazil.

Two Verdi rooms were chosen for the cocktail hour and reception. "We will always remember the interesting ceiling shapes and light fixtures, and a dance floor large enough to hold our happy-footed party," said Jimmy. The single best moment was when our guests formed a circle with us, dancing to "Same Love" - a completely unrehearsed, organic moment."

When the search first began for a venue, Jimmy's Best Woman sent him a list of gay-friendly NYC venues, with Eventi at the top of the list. The couple considered it a sign. Now that they're living happily ever after, they also fondly remember the hotel's friendly, service-oriented vibe. "We were truly treated like kings for the evening."